Today it was announced that 500,000 people have snapped up tickets for WICKED in Sydney, Australia’s very own Emerald City.
WICKED first opened at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on September 5, 2009 and since then Sydneysiders have embraced the musical as their own. The show has broken all previous weekly box office records for a musical at the Capitol Theatre, and now WICKED has achieved the milestone of having been seen by more than 500,000 people in Sydney.
Australian Co-Producer of WICKED John Frost is thrilled that the production has reached this landmark and is constantly surprised at the records that WICKED makes and breaks. “This show is a phenomenon. It is the most successful musical in the world today so it’s no wonder the city of Sydney has fallen under its magical spell. Sydney audiences have taken the show to their hearts, with some people coming to the theatre for the first time in their lives and others seeing the show multiple times. I’d like to thank Sydney for helping us reach the milestone of half a million people.”
WICKED was originally due to close in Sydney on September 12 but due to an unprecedented demand for tickets it has been extended by 2 weeks. It will now close on Sunday, September 26 with no further extension possible.
Minister for the Arts and Acting Tourism Minister, Virginia Judge said the Sydney season reflects the city’s status as Australia’s creative capital. “Events NSW estimates that one in three visitors to WICKED comes from outside Sydney, with tens of thousands of international visitors making it part of their Sydney experience,” she said. “From an interstate perspective, the greatest numbers are coming from Queensland and Canberra and people living in regional NSW are travelling to see WICKED in Australia’s very own Emerald City.”
Sydney is well placed to capitalise on interstate and international markets when it comes to musical theatre, Ms Judge said. “Sydney is Australia’s most popular destination and we are certainly taking an aggressive path forward when it comes to musicals with the premiere of Doctor Zhivago next February,” she said. “Our strong and diverse cultural calendar is providing more and more people with reasons to visit NSW. “Being able to choose from a range of exhibitions, theatre and sporting events year round gives visitors the reason they are looking for to book a flight and visit Australia’s only global city.”
Sydneysiders have only seven more weeks to see one of the most successful shows in theatre history at the most perfect theatre it could play in, the glorious Capitol Theatre.
All remaining tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 723 038.
